Page 61 of Decoy
I didn’t know what information was so precious to him that he’d initially kept me alive for so long just to obtain it, but if it was as important to him as the object of my own search, I’d do all in my power to help him…even if I had to temporarily set aside my own interests to do so.
CHAPTER17
Ihesitated outside the advisor’s study with my hand poised to knock. Though I had the excuse Luke and I had carefully prepared the night before ready to present, my nerves for the upcoming encounter went beyond the tension usually found in the advisor’s presence. This was the first I’d willingly approached him with information pertaining to my mission that would make things difficult for the man I was growing steadily closer to.
I’m worried about him. These concerns would likely only serve as a distraction, considering Luke had already reassured me the night before about every potential consequence that would come from giving the advisor any of his precious secrets—if anything, he seemed to welcome the challenge—yet my anxiety lingered.
The more I came to know him, the more I realized the extent of his façade, leaving me wanting nothing more than to strip away his mask to reveal the man hidden inside, a desire that had only deepened when our conversation last night had strayed to more personal matters. Our late night had been well worth the sacrifice in sleep, even if it left me less alert for the exhausting interaction ahead.
Despite thoroughly enjoying our conversation, I felt unsatisfied; for as much as he’d opened up, he still kept his deepest secrets too close for me to uncover. Whatever information he sought amongst the forbidden tomes would likely offer some clue, but first I’d need to do my part in helping him access what he needed.
With a wavering breath I finally knocked on the door and heeded the advisor’s invitation to enter. He looked up wearily from his desk covered in stacks of books and papers. “Do you have an update on the investigation?”
I perched on the edge of his offered seat, keeping my hands tightly intertwined to prevent their shaking. “I’ve been able to discover part of Lord Luke’s motive: he’s made many repeated requests to access the forbidden tomes.” After much discussion the night before on what to present the advisor, Luke had decided that the best way to disguise a lie was beneath a portion of truth.
I expected Sir Rupert to be pleased with this development, but he only frowned. “That explains why he remains at the palace despite much of the court departing at the conclusion of the events celebrating the princess’s return. For what reason does he have need of them?”
I bit my lip. No matter my cajoling, Luke hadn’t divulged any hint as to his purpose. “He remains elusive, and without direct knowledge of the tomes myself, I have no way of drawing any conclusions as to potential motives.”
To my disappointment, the advisor didn’t seem inclined to fill in these gaps in my knowledge, leaving me as ignorant to this as I was to every other sealed section of the palace shrouded in mystery.
“I’m afraid I cannot grant you access, even to investigate. Too much of the information contained in that section of the royal library would be dangerous in the hands of a prisoner. I will personally investigate the matter myself.”
Despite his sound reasoning, I felt uneasy. “If you’re able to conduct such an investigation, then what’s my purpose?”
He rested his steepled fingers against his chin. “To buy us time by serving as a distraction. We can only do so much from the shadows and need someone to more actively search for information on the front lines. But though your life serves an effective purpose, don’t think the crown trusts you so explicitly as to not search for clues you might have overlooked or examine everything you do discover; Her Highness’s life is too precious to take such a risk.”
For some reason this explanation still left me unsettled, but submissiveness seemed the best course, so I forced myself to nod acceptingly.
After presenting the pieces Luke and I had carefully selected to tell him from our current findings, I stood to leave…only for the advisor’s next sharp words to compel me to pause.
“I’d hoped you had something much more substantial to impart than a few paltry findings and a presumptuous request.”
I glanced back with a frown. “The information I’ve provided wasn’t enough?”
“Not even close. You still haven’t yet learned which assassin house of the many staining our kingdom Lord Luke is serving with, nor the nature of his mission, the very essentials the crown needs in order to take action against him.”
I deliberated the wisdom in sharing some of the cards I’d kept securely close before deciding to reveal one I sincerely hoped I wasn’t playing too early.
“I’ve been dividing my time investigating between Lord Luke and another suspect whose identity remains unknown, someone who attacked me during the night.”
His eyebrows rose. “I’d mistakenly thought the duke’s son the one responsible for the blood discovered yesterday morning. Interesting…though I must wonder how you can be so confidenthe’snot the one responsible for that attack.”
“Because he was with me at the time.”
He frowned. “Being with a man alone in the middle of the night is bad form for a supposed princess. Not to mention should Lord Luke be the one we’re looking for, it seems unwise for him to know there’s someone else after the princess’s life; we can’t afford for anyone to have reason to suspect you’re not truly the Estorian crown princess.”
I lifted my chin. “With my life at stake, you can trust I’ll do all within my power to prevent that.” Yet part of me still wished I could reveal that secret; the closer we became, the more I wanted Luke to know the true me, not the role I masqueraded.
* * *
Purpose guidedmy footsteps following the conclusion of my conversation with the advisor. My knowledge of the palace layout made it easy to locate the king’s study. I hesitated outside the door, not from nerves but aversion to the thought of interacting with the royals I so abhorred.
Only the thought of helping Luke gave me the strength to seize hold of my resolve. The key to the forbidden tomes could only come from a royal. Whether or not he was using me no longer mattered in the face of my desires to repay my debt to him for my own personal satisfaction.
The footman opened the door, and I entered to find a different portrait of the king and queen than the villainous one I’d construed in the years following my family’s fall from grace. The queen immediately hurried over to clasp my hands in a show of motherly affection, her eyes puffy from a recent bout of tears.
“Evelyn darling.” Desperation tightened her grip as she leaned close, not to bestow a kiss as appeared to the watching attendants but to whisper in my ear. “Have you come bearing news of the threat against my precious daughter?”
